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CCOG for TA 244 Spring 2024

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Course Number:
TA 244
Course Title:
Intermediate Improvisation
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Emphasizes the development of improvisational acting skills for sustained narrative and long-form of improvisational theater. Covers the creation of narrative structures using the senses, intuition, body awareness and vocal qualities. Stresses team work and the development of group cohesion. Prerequisites: TA 144 and (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 or equivalent placement. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

  1. Apply knowledge of narrative structures, movement, facial expression and voice, with the development of clearly defined character and complex character relationships, to the creation of long form improvisational theatrical productions.
  2. Apply knowledge of improvisational acting skills to the critique of scene performance.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Students must be assessed based on their ability to create a long form improvisational performance working with a group.
Assessment may include:
1. In-class performances/activities
2. Quiz and homework covering material from the text
3. Critique of classroom group improvisational performance
4. Critique of outside group performance of long-form improvisation
5. Short writing assignments on aspects of performance

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

THEMES:
1. Analysis of narrative structure and application to improvisational creation
2. Team work and the development of group cohesion
3. Critical analysis
4. Character creation
5. Use of performance space to create dramatic locations
6. Development of clear character relationships
7. Appropriate use of warm-up activities
8. Application of improvisational skills 
SKILLS:
1.0 ADVANCED IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS
1.1 Demonstrate mastery of fundamental skills of improvisation
1.2 Rehearse and perform complete narratives by improvisation
1.3 Develop exercises to break down narrative skills
2.0 PHYSICAL AND VOCAL WORK
2.1 Use the body, face and voice to convey character
2.2 Use the body and voice to create objects, machines, animals
2.3 Demonstrate exercises to determine era, time and location
2.4 Demonstrate exercises to build trust and collaboration
3.0 THEATER GAME STRUCTURES
3.1 Rehearse and perform condensed scenes, monologues, and character endowments as methods for creating narrative
3.2 Develop exercises to form group cohesion
3.3 Develop the conventions of various narrative structures
3.4 Develop an understanding of the relationship between location, character, plot, and genre or style
4.0 LONG-FORM NARRATIVE
4.1 Design various narrative structures
4.2 Design scene-to-scene connections
4.3 Perform long-form improvisation